Numbers reading device



I May 8, 1951 H. DE FRANCE 2,552,156

NUMBERS READING DEVICE Filed March 17, 1947 8) la Mw% ATTORNEYS Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED TENT OFFICE Application March 17, 1947, Serial No. 735,146 In France March 19, 1946 Claims. 1 1

My invention relates to devices for identifying Signs (letters, figures, drawings, etc.) marked on rigid or flexible supports, in particular on bonds, notes or the like, representing a monetary value, in particular with a view to avoiding the possibility of the same number being carried by two different bonds or notes.

The chief object of my invention is to provide a device which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice than those used for the same purpose up to the present time.

, For this purpose, according to an essential feature of my invention, the respective signs to be provided on said supports are given distinctive configurations (in particular are constituted by striae of difierent respective spacings) owing to which scanning thereof permits of generating identifying electric, acoustic or other frequencies.

According to another feature of my invention, these frequencies are supplied to a checking device arranged to be, for each successive support that is being scanned, in a given working position according to a predetermined law of succession of the signs (numbers) that are to be carried by the supports suCGeSSively examined.

According to still another feature of my invention, the supports carrying the signs to be checked are successively brought into position for examination by a distributing apparatus and the occurring of an erroneous sign has for its eiiect automatically to stOp the distributing apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of my invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example and in which:

Fig. 1 shows two digits printed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 shows two current modulation curves to be utilized according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical View of an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the distributing device of Fig. 3.

In the following description, it will be supposed that the invention is applied to the checking of the serial numbers of bonds, bank notes, lottery tickets, etc.

. The digits that constitute these numbers are given suitable configurations owing to which scanning thereof permits of generating frequencies (acoustic, electric or other frequencies) which are distinctive of each of them.

For instance, said digits (Fig. 1) are constituted by fine equidistant parallel striae the spacing between which is different for each of them and a characteristic thereof. Such striae may be obtained by printing or photography. They may be constituted by perforations, or on the contrary by projections (obtained by depositing of matter, decalcomania, or machining). They may be alternately light and dark, or transparent and opaque, or reflecting and dull, etc.

To generate the above mentioned frequencies, I make use of means for scanning the digits for instance perpendicularly to their striae and at constant velocity. This scanning is advantageously performed on a real image of each of said digits obtained through a suitable optical system so as to impress a modulated illumination on a photoelectric cell across the output terminals of which I collect a similarly modulated current, the frequency of which is a characteristic of the digit thus scanned.

The checking device is advantageously combined with a mechanical counter, the movement of which is conjugated with that of the distributing apparatus and which is designed in such manner as to include, for every rank (units, tens, hundreds, etc.) of the numbers to be checked, 2. set of resonant circuits correspond.- ing with the respective characteristic frequencies f the digits. Each resonator is coupled with a relay adapted to be excited by the current supplied by said resonator but only if said relay is in working position, which occurs only when the digit registered by the counter element. of the same rank is that for the frequency of which said associated resonator can enter into action. The Whole is so devised that as long as the num: bers carried by the notes that are scanned are correct, the distributing apparatus keeps working, but any mistake in the numbering of the notes causes the apparatus to stop.

The distributing apparatus includes two horizontal plates H3 and II, one of which carries the bonds I? to be checked, stacked in their normal numbering order, the numbered side turned upwardly while the other receives the bonds that have just been checked. Passage from one to the other is ensured by means of an arm I4 adapted to receive from a motor 29 a reciprocating vertical movement and a rotational movement about axis l5 and provided at its end with a sucker it placed in communication at the desired time with a source of vacuum. The distribution machine is driven by an electric motor and the various operations thereof are controlled in the required order by a system of cams coacting with suitable levers.

In order to produce electric frequencies corresponding to the digits carried by the bonds, I illuminate the top note of the stack l2 by means of an illuminating device diagrammatically shown at I1. I form a magnified vertical real image of the number carried by this bond on an opaque screen 18, by means of a mirror l9 and a suitable optical system 29. Thus, on the image, the striae which form the digits are horizontal, alternately dark and light.

And the surface of this image is scanned by imparting to screen I8, in which I provide a horizontal slot 2! of a width equal to that of the image of one of the finest striae used for constituting the digits, say that corresponding to the zero, a vertical translatory movement in its own plane, with a constant speed and preferably of an amplitude such that the whole of the image is scanned, this movement being imparted by a crank Isa driven by a suitable source of power. Thus a photoelectric cell 22 disposed behind this movable screen will receive a periodically varying light flux of a frequency characterizing the figure that is being scanned, this frequency depending upon the width of the striae and the velocity of translation of the screen. I therefore collect across the terminals of cell 22 a modulated current of this frequency.

It will be necessary to place behind screen i8 a number of cells 22 equal to the number of ranks of digits in the numbers to be checked, that is to say three in the case disclosed in the present example, where the bonds are examined in series of one thousand, the numbers therefore ranging from 000 to 999. The respective cells 22 are arranged in such manner (being for instance surrounded by casings 22a) that each of them can be influenced only by the light flux from the digit corresponding to its rank, exclusively of the others.

In order to analyze the modulated currents thus obtained for each rank of the number, each cell 22 is coupled with an amplifier 23 itself connected with a group of ten resonators, from to 9, including resonance circuits designed in such manner as to permit an appreciable current to flow only through the one the frequency of which corresponds to that of the current supplied by cell 22.

- However, and in order to avoid introducing harmonics which might disturb the working of the resonators, the highest frequency must not be equal to twice (or a multiple of) the lowest one (see curves of Figs. 2a and 21)). However it is of interest to make their difference as great as possible in order to facilitate differentiation between them; advantageously the frequencies and consequently the width of the striaewill vary by 7% from one to the other (since log 1.07: log 2) forming the following sequence of numbers: 11.07-1.l5-l.23l.321.41- l.51--l.62l.74l.86, in the chosen example of different signs (digits) to be identified.

Each resonator will be coupled with a relay, such as 2a, capable of being excited by the current fiowing through the resonator with which it is associated, and to establish a contact at 2b between two wires 24, 25.

Relays 2a are arranged for every rank, in such manner that they can be excited by the current flowing through the associated resonator 2 only if said resonator truly corresponds to the number that must be carried by the bond that is being examined.

For this purpose, the number that is to be carried by the bond that is being examined is registered by a mechanical counter 26 including as many wheels or analogous elements 26a, 26b, 260 as there are digits (or ranks of digits) in the numbers to be checked.

A contact stud is provided to correspond to each figure of the wheels and I connect, for every rank of figures, the ten contact studs respectively to the output of the excitation winding of the ten relays of the same rank, such as 2a, the input of said windings being connected with the associated resonators, in such manner, for instance, that to the contact stud No. 2 of the dial of hundreds there is connected to relay associated with the resonator of the rank of hundreds that is responsive to the frequency characterizing digit 2 (see Fig. 3 where only the control group corresponding to the hundreds has been represented).

To cooperate with the ten contacts studs of each dial I provide a fixed contact 21 connected with the return wire 28 leading to the output of amplifier 23.

Finally, I connect in series the terminal 24a and 25a corresponding to the respective ranks of figures, three in the example shown, in such manner as to form a circuit when the three contacts, such as 21), are closed, and I cause the closing of this circuit to produce, through a suitable set of relays, the operation of the above described distributing apparatus, and the advance by one unit on counter 26.

The operation of the device may be summed up as follows:

Every digit of the number of bonds l2 that is being examined gives an image on movable screen [8 the scanning slot of which imparts to a cell 22 a varying illumination of a frequency characteristic of the digit that is being scanned. This cell produces a modulated current of the same frequency; this current is amplified and analyzed by a group of resonators only one of which, that corresponding to the digit that is being examined, say 2, permits an appreciable current to fiow. This current excites a relay, such as 2a, the excitation circuit of which is closed, to a common return 30, only through a contactor associated with the wheel, of the same rank as the digit that is being scanned, on a mechanical counter 26, said contactor being connected with the contact stud corresponding to the digit of this rank that must be carried by the bond. When these two digits are identical the relay is excited and closes a contact (2b) otherwise, if there is no correspondence between the relay the circuit of which is closed and the resonator excited by the modulated current, no contact such as 2b is closed. These contacts are grouped in series to close a distributor control circuit. If a single one of these contacts is open, the distributor does not work.

The contact that establishes the working position of the counter could be located ahead of the resonators or between them and the relays. Supplementary means could be provided for identifying as well figure 0 as the absence of any figure (so as, in particular, to identify numbers written both in the form 0047 as in the form 47). The frequencies might be of acoustic nature and capable of cooperating with resonators of the same kind.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and eificient embodiments of my invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of'the parts without departing from the principle of the presentinvention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for identifying signs marked on a support and each constituted by a multiplicity of elements juxtaposed with a distinctive spacing between them which comprises, in combination, means for illuminating said support, a screen, optical means for forming on said screen a real image of the signs carried by said support, means for moving said screen in its own plane in the direction in which the images of said elements are juxtaposed to one another, said screen being provided with an aperture of a dimension in this direction corresponding to that of the smallest of said element images, a photoelectric cell behind said screen opposite said aperture, and means for identifying the frequency of the electric current across the terminals of said cell.

2. An apparatus for identifying a sign marked on a support, this sign being constituted by the juxtaposition of a multiplicity of marking elements corresponding to a characteristic code pattern, this apparatus comprising, in combination, a screen, optical means for forming on said screen a real image of the sign carried by said support, means for moving said screen at least substantially in its own plane in the direction in which the images of said marking elements are juxtaposed to one another, said screen being provided with an aperture the dimension of which in this direction is adapted to ensure a periodical variation of the light flux passing therethrough in the course of this movement of the screen, a

photoelectric cell behind said screen opposite said aperture, and means for identifying the frequency of the electric current across the ter minals of said cell.

3. An apparatus for checking up the respective numbers marked on a succession of supports, said numbers being formed by digits each constituted by a juxtaposition of marking elements corresponding to a characteristic code pattern, this apparatus including in combination, means for advancing each successive support into checking position, a counter having a plurality of movable parts corresponding each to one numerical rank of digits of said numbers, means for actuating said counter parts in synchronism with said support advancing means so that the number registered by said counter increases by one unit upon every operation of said support advancing means, means including an electric circuit, for controlling said support advancing means to permit operation thereof only when said circuit is closed, said circuit including a plurality of control contacts in series, corresponding each to one numerical rank of digits of said numbers, a plurality of luminous means, corresponding each toone numerical rank of digits of said numbers, for scanning the digit of this rank of the number marked on the support in checking position to produce a light flux variation of a frequency corresponding to the characteristic pattern of said digit, a plurality of photo-electric devices each operative by one of said luminous scaning means, and means responsive both to the positions of said counter movable parts and to the electric modulation frequencies supplied by said photoelectric devices for closing said control contacts respectively when said frequencies ill correspond to said positions according to a prede termined law.

4. An apparatus for checking up the respec tive numbers marked on a succession of supports, said numbers being formed by digits each constituted by a juxtaposition of marking elements corresponding to a characteristic code pattern, this apparatus including, in combination, means for advancing each successive support into checking position, a counter having a plurality of movable parts corresponding each to one nu merical rank of digits of said numbers, means for actuating said counter parts in synchronism with said support advancing means so that the number registered by said counter increases by one unit upon every operation of said support advancing means, means, including an electric circuit, for controlling said support advancing means to permit operation thereof only when said circuit is closed, said circuit including a plurality of control contacts in series, corresponding each to one numerical rank of digits of said numbers, a plurality of luminous means, corresponding each to one numerical rank of digits of said numbers, for scanning the digit of this rank of the number marked on the support in checking position to produce a light flux variation of a frequency corresponding to the characteristic pattern of said digit, a plurality of photo-electric devices each operative by one of said luminous scanning means, a plurality of sets of resonant electric circuits, all the circuits of each set being connected in shunt at one end with one terminal of one of said photo-electric devices, the respective circuits of each set being tuned to as many different frequencies corresponding to the respective patterns of the digits of the numerical rank of digits scanned by the luminous means acting upon the photoelectric device with which said set is connected, a relay connected to the other end of each of said resonant circuits, each of the relays corresponding to one set being capable, when energized, of closing the control contact corresponding to the numerical rank of digits to which corresponds said set, and a set of counter contacts, respectively carried by each of said counter parts, in series with the resonant circuits and relays of the corresponding set, respectively, for successively closing said resonant circuits so as to energize the corresponding relays as long as the frequencies of the electric modulations, supplied by the corresponding photoelectric device are those to which said resonant circuits are tuned, respectively.

5. An apparatus for checking up the respective decimal numbers marked on a succession of supports, said numbers being formed by digits each constituted by a juxtaposition of marking elements corresponding to a characteristic code pattern, this apparatus including in combination, means for advancing each successive support into checking position, a counter having a plurality of movable parts corresponding each to one declmal rank of digits of said numbers, means for actuating said counter parts in synchronism with said support advancing means so that the number registered by said counter increases by one unit upon every operation of said support advancing means, means, including an electric circuit, for controlling said support advancing means to permit operation thereof only when said circuit is closed, said circuit including a plurality of control contacts in series, corresponding each to one decimal rank of digits of said numbers, a plurality of luminous means, corresponding each to one numerical rank of digits of said numbers, for scanning the digit of this rank of the number marked on the support in checking position to produce a light flux variation of a frequency corresponding to the characteristic pattern of said digit, a plurality of photoelectric devices each operative by one of said luminous scanning means a plurality of sets each of ten resonant electric circuits, all the circuits of each set being connected in shunt at one end with one terminal of one of said photoelectric devices, the ten respective circuits of each set being tuned to ten different frequencies corresponding to the respective paterns of the ten digits, from zero to nine inclusive, of the decimal system, a relay connected to the other end of each of said resonant circuits, each of the ten relays corresponding to one set being capable, when energized, of closing the control contact corresponding to the decimal rank of digits to which corresponds said set, and ten counter contacts, respectively carried by each of said counter parts, in series with the ten resonant circuits and relays of the corresponding set, respectively, for successively closing said resonant circuits so as to energize the corresponding relays as long as the frequencies of the electric modulations supplied by the corresponding photoelectric device are those to which said ten resonant circuits are tuned, respectively.

HENRI ma FRANCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,870,989 Eldred Aug. 9, 1932 1,915,993 Handel June 27, 1933 2,224,646 Friedman et al Dec. 10, 1940 2,294,720 Dickinson Sept. 1, 1942 2,335,945 Keough Dec. '7, 1943 

